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Have a heart for your kidneys!

On this occasion, let us all take a pledge to take small, simple steps to protect our kidneys. It really isn't that difficult. The trouble is it is really important. Here are some simple things you can do to protect your kidneys:

- Keep your blood sugar and blood pressure under control: Diabetes and Hypertension are the leading causes of kidney disease. It is very important to keep these under control.

- Stay fit - do some exercise regularly. We tend to get so caught up in our work that we keep postponing this. Remember, all you need is 30 minutes. Can't we even pull out 30 minutes from our work for exercise? Especially if it going to give us many healthy years?

- Drink only moderately if you must. Never binge. Never overdo it.

- Don't smoke. No concessions here. There are absolutely no benefits. Only very disastrous consequences.

- Drink plenty of water - the elixir of life! I wish someone would tell me to do this. You can. So drink all you can!

- Don't self-medicate - Painkillers and antibiotics must be taken with extreme caution. This year's World Kidney Day focus is Acute Kidney Injury, one of the causes of which is this. They might give you relief but the long term consequences are dangerous.

- Get a medical check-up regularly - especially if you are at risk. Once a year, a complete medical check up can't be that big a problem, right?

We all get busy with work. But think about what can happen if you don't take this seriously. We live life like there is no tomorrow. Lightning can strike at any time. It struck me when I was 21. I had no control. You are lucky that you do. If you still do not choose to exercise it, it is really up to you!

A very apt post Kamal !! I follow your blog very religiously and am a big fan of yours.

Just a couple of points from my side. Firstly, I feel one should not drink lots of water but drink only when one is thirsty. Our body has an uncanny habit of demanding what it requires... hence if one feels more thirsty, go ahead and drink more water and if one feels less thirsty, drink less. This will help in not unnecessarily overloading our kidneys. Also, everyone should invest in a good water purifier to clean our water from impurities. High TDS in water again stresses the Kidneys in forcing them to remove the excess minerals from water. And the harmful affects of other toxins in the water are very well known to us.

Secondly, we should strive to reduce our sodium intake. Not only a high sodium diet makes our kidneys work overtime as it has to remove excess salt from our blood stream, but it also makes us more thirsty making us drink more water. Also, a low sodium diet will keep the BP in check, again putting less stress on our kidneys.

The kidneys of a healthy adult can process fifteen liters of water a day! You are unlikely to suffer from water intoxication, even if you drink a lot of water, as long as you drink over time as opposed to intaking an enormous volume at one time. As a general guideline, most adults need about three quarts of fluid each day -- Information from http://chemistry.about.com/cs/5/f/blwaterintox.htm

So, dont fret about over loading kindeys. They are manufactured with care. Enjoy drinking water. Who knows, water may become a luxury soon...may be for our grand grand children ;)

KK, I think the trouble is people 'forget' to drink water. If they drink only when they feel thirsty, I think they would not get the required quantity of water for their needs.

People also get lazy. Let's say the water dispenser is not close to your desk at work. Unless you feel really thirsty, you wouldn't make the effort to go and drink water.

God! I cannot, for the life of me, imagine how people find it difficult to drink water. If you ask me to drink the entire water available in all the rivers in the country today (assuming they are clean, hehehe) and assure me that nothing would happen to me despite my non-functioning kidneys, I would do so without any difficulty at all!

Hello KamalI came across your blog while searching for dialysis and huge costs involved in it.Thanks for all the information which if a human being , without kidney disease also , follows will remain healthy for long long time.

My mother,one fine day,all of a sudden started panting and had to be admitted in ICU couple of months back.Creatine level was 9.Not a single doctor had told to start dialysis when it was 3 couple of years back and then there was lack of awareness on this disease on our front also.

Its been nearly 2 months since then and she already went to ICU thrice.She is taking dialysis,2 times/week and on top of it she is diabetic.She has been asked to drink 1 litre of fluid per day (inclusive of water,milk,lentils etc)Do you have any information on fluid intake for a kidney patient?

Sorry to know about your mother's health issue. Yes, most people who start off on dialysis are advised to restrict their fluids to a litter a day and this includes all fluids - water, curd, milk, tea, dals etc.

Hi Koushik, dialysis can bring down creatinine but only temporarily. As soon as you finish your dialysis treatment, the creatinine starts rising again. That is why it needs to be done regularly - thrice a week or more.

Most insurance companies nowadays cover dialysis. We are exploring options in Kolkata and should be there soon!